SILK AND STEEL

Chapter 13

ZHERA POV

MARSHALL DONOVAN is having a meeting sa isang glass-walled boardroom sa 29th floor ng isang hotel. She is stationed sa kabilang building, her sniper rifle perfectly calibrated.

Kitang-kita niya sa scope ang bawat galaw ni Marshall. He looks so dominant and powerful. Gayunpaman, kailangan niya pa rin tapusin ang dapat na tapusin. Huminga siya ng malalim. Nang bigla, Marshall pauses and checks his phone.

Naramdaman niya ang pag vibrate ng dummy phone niya. Kumunot ang noo niya. Tumatawag ba sa kanya ang binata? Huminga muna siya bago sinagot ang tawag na nakangiti.

"Hey–" tugon niya.

"I'm in the meeting, but I'm thinking of you. Can't wait to go home to my wife."

"Me too. Can't wait ... to .. see you," malambing na sabi niya.

Narinig niya ang marahan pagtawa ni Marshall. Nakikita niyang tumayo ito sa kinauupuan at tumanaw sa malaking glass window. Hindi niya maipaliwanag, pero parang nakatingin ito sa gawi niya.

Imposible makita siya nito sa ganito kalayo.

"I suddenly missed your scent. Your soft body that is so wonderful to hold. Are you completely certain about your decision, my dear wife?"

Ang malamyos at nanghihibong tono nito ay naging malamig. Napalunok siya.

"Decision? What .. do you mean?" nahihirapan na tanong niya sa kabilang linya.

"The second your finger pulls that trigger... it means war, my dear wife."

Parang may bombang sumabog sa dibdib niya ng mga oras na 'yon. Mula sa hawak niyang sniper rifle, kitang kita niya ang madilim na anyo ni Marshall. He knows... he knows..

"I don't know what you're talking about, Marshall."

"Of course you know, Zhera. You want me dead, don't you? Go ahead, my wife. Do it. Blow my brains out. Don't you dare miss."

Shít ! Damn it !

Hinagis niya ang dummy phone sa galit at inis. Niligpit niya ang sniper rifle at nagmamadaling bumaba ng building. Nasa kabilang kanto ang nakaparad niyang kotse. Kailangan niya maitago agad ang baril. Ngunit, bago pa niya mai-dispose ang maliit na duffle bag na naglalaman ng sniper rifle.

Isang matulis na bagay ang tumusok sa leeg niya. Marahas na pumalag siya at hinawakan ang braso ng kung sino man nasa likuran niya. Napasinghap ako ng makita ang mukha ni Tanner.

Walang emosyon at malamig ang mga mata nito.

"My apologies, Zee. I am merely saving you."

Napalunok siya. Nanuyo bigla ang lalamunan niya kasabay ang pag ikot ng paningin hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang nilamon ng dilim.

Nang magising siya, nasa isang pamilyar na kwarto. Napabalikwas siya ng bangon. Sa Mansyon ng mga Rugger !

Akma lalabas siya ng mapagtanto, wala siyang suot na damit tanging bra at panty lang. Argh ! Kinuha nila lahat ng armas niya. Shít !

She still found the audacity to step out of the room, completely unbothered by the scrutinizing glares of Mr. Rugger’s maids and henchmen. Her only goal was to find Tanner—and hunt him down just to smash her fist into his face.

Out in the sprawling garden, she found the father and son—Mr. Rugger and Tanner—casually lounging over coffee. It was still surreal to her; she never imagined she would be dragged back to Italy so utterly defenseless.

Subalit, ano na ba ang nangyari sa asawa niya? I mean, kay Marshall Donovan?

"What happened? Did something... happen to Marshall?" she demanded immediately. The two barely spared her a passing glance before returning to their coffee.

"And what exactly should be happening to Marshall Donovan, Zee?" Mr. Rugger questioned, his voice dripping with authority.

Tanner glanced back at her, a single eyebrow arched in amusement.

"It's freezing out here, Zee. Try putting on some actual clothes. It might actually suit you."

Umingos siya. Bahagyang lumapit kay Mr. Rugger, buong tapang na humarap siya rito.

"Mr. Rugger, I still have a few days left to finish my assignment!" she pressed.

Mr. Rugger was the picture of calm. "Since when do you take this long to complete a hit, Zee? Or have you actually grown fond of the idea of becoming a real Mrs. Marshall Donovan?"

"He's dead, Zee," Tanner cut in casually. "Father's men put a bullet in him." Her eyes widened in horror.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. Turning on her heel, she bolted back toward her room. She had to know for herself—she had to know if Marshall was truly gone.

Kilala niya si Mr. Rugger, alam niyang pag ito ang gumalaw ay sigurado at totoo. Huminga siya ng malalim. Mabilis siyang kumuha ng bihisan at nagmadaling lumabas ng mansyon.

However, before she could completely escape the mansion, Mr. Rugger's men immediately blocked her path.

She quickly resisted. She fought back using her own strength. Even though ten men blocked her, she knocked them down without fail. Punches and kicks. She only stopped when over ten more men arrived holding guns and aimed them at her.

Wala siyang laban sa dami ng baril. She stopped, waiting, hanggang sa lumapit si Tanner sa kanya. Without warning, may itinusok na naman ito sa leeg niya, causing her to lose consciousness once again.

The coldness of the concrete floor ang unang gumising sa kanyang diwa. Ang huling naalala niya ay ang malamig na hiringgilya ni Tanner sa leeg niya.

Dahan-dahan niyang iminulat ang kanyang mga mata, pero purong dilim lang ang sumalubong sa kanya. She tried to move her hands, but the sharp, heavy metallic clinking sound confirmed her worst nightmare.

Nakagapos siya. Her wrists were chained tightly to a rusted pipe behind her back.

"Gising ka na pala, Zee," a familiar, low voice echoed through the dark room.

Hindi si Tanner. Hindi rin si Mr. Rugger.

Step by step, the footsteps approached her until a single spotlight flickered on directly above her head.

As her eyes adjusted to the blinding light, a shadow loomed over her. Footsteps stopped right in front of her, at unti-unting nakilala ng mga mata niya ang pigurang nakatayo sa harap niya.

It was a face she never thought she would see again.